Discover Home Care in North Dakota

Home care in North Dakota is designed to allow seniors to stay as independent as possible while remaining in the comfort of their own homes. This care type covers everything from weekly medication management to 24-hour skilled nursing care so there are many options available. Currently, there are about 112 home health care agencies in North Dakota and the average monthly cost of care is around $5,179.

Home Care in North Dakota - Cost Comparison

Home care or senior home care is provided by senior home care agencies through the services of registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, home health aides, home attendants, social workers, and therapists in North Dakota.

Hiring a home care aide is a way to provide professional help for you or your loved one, ranging from bathing, dressing, feeding, toileting, and general hygiene, to performing instrumental tasks like housekeeping, general shopping, transportation or meal preparation. Depending on if a caretaker is a licensed medical professional or a non-medical paraprofessional, your costs will vary in accordance with the specific services provided.

There are a number of cities throughout North Dakota that have senior home care agencies but the median monthly cost ranges from:

Highest Cost: Grand Forks $5,179

Lowest Cost: Fargo $4,576

City

Homemaker Services Monthly Costs

Home Health Aide Monthly Costs

Bismarck

$6,002

$6,002

Fargo

$5,255

$5,255

Grand Forks

$5,331

$5,331

Rest of State

$2,860

$3,241

Recreation & Attractions in North Dakota

North Dakota is a state of incredible natural beauty and a culturally rich area of the United States. There is plenty of space for those who enjoy exploring wide open landscapes, filled with interesting animals like bison, mountain lions, feral horses, and elk to name a few. State parks like Fort Abraham Lincoln is an attraction for Civil War history buffs, featuring reconstructed buildings such as Custer's House and the On-A-Slant Indian Village. The North Dakota Heritage Center is the state's official history museum. Here, visitors can view rare exhibits featuring a mummified Edmontosaurus complete with fossilized skin.

Even if you aren't as mobile as before, there are still endless places to go and things to see as a senior in North Dakota. Senior centers throughout the state provide different senior-oriented activities such as technology seminars, exercise classes, crafts, and health screenings. Specialized senior trips are also available to places such as the North Dakota Heritage Center, the Enchanted Highway, or the North Dakota Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center.

North Dakota's Climate, Geography & Culture

The climate in ND supports mild summers and often bitter-cold winters. The summer high usually averages around 82 degrees with a winter low of -4 degrees. The state gets over 200 days of sunshine a year, and much less precipitation than the U.S. average. North Dakota gets approximately 18 inches of rain annually and 34 inches of snow with the US average being 37 and 25 inches. Areas of the state are relatively arid, but there is usually enough rain to support crop growth.

North Dakota’s culture supports self-sufficient and friendly residents. The state is large and not very populated with the economy based off agriculture, mining, food processing, tourism, and lately, oil and gas. Residents enjoy outdoor recreation in their free time. Cities like Bismarck and Fargo offer a range of top-notch restaurants and live music experiences, not to mention their vibrant arts communities and museums.

Although North Dakota is the 4th least densely populated state in America, it is still home to many Native American people of the Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara, Yanktonia, Sisseton, Wahpeton, Hunkpapa tribes, as well as the Sioux, which include the Dakotah and Lakotah, along with the Pembina Chippewa, Cree and Metis.

Crime & Safety in North Dakota

When searching for home care in North Dakota it can be helpful to know where the safer areas of the state are located. Overall, North Dakota earned a 43 on a scale of 100 (1 being the lowest crime) for violent crime and 45 for property crime. Not only will a safe environment make an individual's home care more effective, but visitors can rest assured that their loved one doesn't have to worry about the neighborhood. Here are some of the safest places found throughout North Dakota:

Location

Violent Crimes Per 1,000 Residents

Property Crimes Per 1,000 Residents

Carrington

0.00

2.84

Lincoln

0.79

3.57

Minot

2.32

17.55

West Fargo

2.30

17.92

North Dakota's Home Care Regulations & Laws

Medicare-certified home health aides are required to have a federal minimum of 75 hours of training, including 16 hours of supervised practical or clinical training and 12 hours of additional education every 12 months following their licensing. Each state’s approved programs for training and evaluation are overseen by federal legislation (42 CFR 484.36) to ensure national consistency.

Payment Options for North Dakota Home Care

There are many different options when it comes to paying for senior home care in North Dakota. After you've determined the type of care that will be required, the next step is figuring out which payment method is the most financially plausible for you.

Firstly, Medicare only covers medical home health care very selectively and does not apply to non-medical care in almost every case. Most people use Medicare Supplement Insurances to cover Medicare copayments and deductibles for medical home care that is deemed medically necessary.

U.S. veterans can also receive assistance for home care through benefits like the Improved Pension or Homebound and Aid & Attendance Pension. To apply, contact your local Area Agency on Aging for more details.

Most people will choose to pay privately using their own savings, assets, or pensions. Other private options include reverse mortgages, opening a home equity line of credit, or by converting a life insurance policy to cash.

Medicaid is another joint federal and state funded insurance program available to low-income seniors and their families. Home care is referred to as Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) in reference to Medicaid coverage.

Senior & Elderly Rights for Home Care in North Dakota

When you begin your home care in North Dakota, it is mandatory that your rights be explained to you from day one. You should be informed that you reserve the right to choose your own home health agency and can make your own decisions regarding the care you receive. Your personal privacy is to be respected at all times, pending medically necessary procedures.

If there comes a point when you are unable to make decisions regarding your own care, you have the right to entrust this responsibility to a family member or other legal representative. Remember, your Constitutional rights and those afforded by the Bill of Rights remain active during throughout your care. If you believe a violation has occurred, contact a lawyer immediately.

North Dakota Home Care: Medical Record Rules & Regulations

While receiving home care or any other medical service in North Dakota, your rights to obtain written or digital copies of your medical records is possible via written request. While some cases warrant the denial releasing your information, your healthcare provider must respect your requests and respond within 30 days, or as many as 60 days later including a statement addressing the delay.

Personal details of your mental and physical health are included in your protected health information which includes medical records, billing records, claims adjudication records, and other private documents. By reviewing your information you’ll always be able to make any corrections needed with the supervision of your healthcare provider and ensure the overall accuracy of these records.

Finding the perfect senior care community is only part of making your loved one’s senior living transition smooth. At SeniorCaring, we know that it is also equally important to be aware of what other community services and resources are available to your family’s senior. Choose your location and find local resources for your senior.